Sunday, 5 July 2020

Project 366 : Photo Diary week 27

If you follow my blog, you may have noticed that my final blogpost last week was on Tuesday. That just goes to show the kind of week we had ! It was the last week at school so I had meetings on Wednesday morning and Friday morning - my two half days off usually, boo ! I also had to go and see Pierre's teacher on Tuesday after school, so I couldn't go to the end-of-school-year drinks at work. Juliette got the paperwork on Wednesday to say she can to the "lycée" (upper high school) that she wanted and informing us to go online rapidly to accept the place. No problem, except my codes to get online weren't working. I phoned the new school who told me to phone the old school, but the old school said they couldn't do anything about it and to get back in touch with the new school. Luckily, as I'm a teacher, I asked the secretary at my school, who confirmed that yes, it was the old school's responsibility. I phoned back and explained that I'd double-checked then FINALLY managed to get new codes for the sign-up. On top of that, I got an email to say that the "collège" (lower high school - the same school that Juliette is now leaving) had been in touch with Pierre's primary teacher to say they were surprised I hadn't followed up on his new place. I'd been told (during confinement) that it was all being done online and had filled everything in on there. So that was Wednesday, on top of normal work, racing about digging out paperwork and doing photocopies and filling in all the new file for Pierre. Thank goodness I'm on holiday now - I need to breeeeeathe !!


Sunday 28th June - It was a gorgeous day so we headed out on the bus, going along to the far end of the promenade to avoid the crowds. There were quite a few people walking along the beach (twenty or so) but, as you can see in the pictures, social-distancing wasn't a problem, as it's such a huge beach, stretching all the way along to Belgium. This is the mirror bunker, which has been here for a few years, but the artist has just said he's not going to maintain the upkeep any more, so it may well disappear this summer.

 

After a nice walk along the beach, we grabbed a Belgian-style waffle at a little refreshments van, before getting the bus back home.



Monday - After a day at work, then sorting out dinner, I settled down to watch Ragnarok on Netflix with Sophie (and a box of microwave popcorn). It's a Norwegian series, but we watched it in English. It's not bad. It deals with a family moving to a new town and the teenage son is endowed with magical powers, so he is the incarnation of Thor, coming up against another "evil" local family, alongside all the regular teen angst.

 

Tuesday - We had to go and see Pierre's primary teacher after school for the final time, to give in the few remaining books that he had left and to pick "something" up. It turned out that, as it was their final year, the parents' association had given a €15 voucher for Le Furet du Nord (very similar to Virgin Megastore, which is what it was before) to each of the pupils. This was to use up the funds that usually would have been used to buy chocolates at Easter and pay for an end-of-year day out. Pierre was really chuffed. Got home to discover that Juliette had made loads of pancakes - that's tea sorted out then ! One of them even had a face !


Wednesday - I had a meeting in the morning, then dashed around sorting out all the paperwork for Pierre. Not to be outdone by her sister, Sophie made some Oreo Brookies (a mixture of brownies and cookies). Very tasty but apparently 400 odd calories per portion - eeek !


Thursday - A looong day at work, but it was the final chance to see the pupils, so it was fun. We mostly played Hangman and did wordsearches in English and talked about which "lycée" the older kids would be heading off to next year. Still really hot.


Friday - The final day at school. The kids were off already so we had a morning of meetings, to sort out where to kick off in September. Apparently, the Stage 2-confinement has been planned for October, but fingers crossed we won't actually need it. Better to be prepared though. We all had a buffet-style lunch together in the school canteen then headed home. That's it until the last day of August - phew ! It was a cool sunset tonight, with the sky full of little clouds as the sun started to go down.


Saturday - First day of the holiday - no need to set the alarm, yippee ! After heading in to town and sorting out Sophie's glasses, we took the dog on a long walk.


I sat down with Sophie and we made a big To-Do list for everything that needs to be done around the house. There's plenty to keep us going throughout the holidays (cleaning, dejunking, repainting, repairs, ...), including some big jobs like finally selling Mike's car (which needs a new battery first). We also have plans to go visiting Belgium for a week, so we're looking at where to go (and where to sleep). The train is only €15 for a week's worth of unlimited travel apparently, so definitely a good plan.


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23 comments:

  1. Wow, the train to Belgium is a bargain. Nobrainer! Enjoy the holidays, and don't spend all the time decorating.

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  2. Sounds like a super busy week, and what a nightmare sorting out the codes for schools. I'm envious of your walks on the empty beach. The waffles and pancakes look very tasty, and eek @ 400kcal in brookies (I bet they are tasty too). The train to Belgium ticket is a good bargain. Good luck with your long-term plans, like selling the car.

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    1. Thanks, it's all quite daunting, sorting out the car, but I'm sure we'll get there eventually !

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  3. It sounds like you have been busy. Thank goodness for the holidays. I bet you are glad to have a break.
    It looks like you had a good time at the beach and the belgian style waffle looks amazing!
    Wow! I've not heard of Brookies before. They look and sound so good! x

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    1. Definitely glad to be on holiday ! Brookies are definitely worth a try - they're very moreish !

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  4. Wow that does sound like a very busy week – glad that the holidays have arrived and you can have some space to breathe again! Love the photos of the beach – so nice to have plenty of space for social distancing. How lovely that the parents’ association gave each of the pupils a voucher. Oreo Brookies sound delicious even if they are a bit heavy on the calories! Good luck with working for your to-do list for the summer holidays. #project366

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    1. It's been a busy week sorting out Pierre's room ! Hopefully today will be the last day :)

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  5. That is a good price for a week's train travel. Costs me more than that for one return trip to Glasgow, 55 mins on the train.
    Oh flipping heck at the carry on with schools and paper work, hate it when you get the run around and not sure who is telling the right story.
    Do you not drive and could use the car? Or no use to either of the girls?

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    1. That is the price for those under 26, but I have to pay more. They do a 10-trip special price for about €180 I think, which isn't too bad either. And no, I don't drive. Sophie's learning to drive (well, she was before the confinement) but it would cost a fortune to insure.

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  6. Sounds like a super busy week. The walks on the empty beach, look lovey. The waffles and pancakes look very tasty. The train to Belgium ticket is a good bargain. Good luck with your long-term plans. Hugs xx

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    1. Thanks. It's a strange summer, with last minute plans being laid, but I'm sure we'll have fun. :)

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  7. Don't worry... it's only a guideline, I heard there are no calories in Chocolate Brownies and I'm sticking to that! ;)
    Gosh, what a faff with the schools! Glad it was all sorted in the end, it totally helped you have experience in education! Well done to Juliette getting in the school she wanted too!
    How lovely of the school to give Pierre a leaving gift too, I'd be surprised if we get a 'See ya!' next Tuesday! Bet it feels awesome to turn your alarm off now, I cannot wait for next week! I've never been to Belgium, hope you guys have a fab time, it will definitely refresh the batteries! Hope you are all having a lovely week! Sim x

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    1. I actually left most of the cakes for the kids - who polished them off in double quick time ! I'm so glad all the school paperwork is now done - nightmare ! Definitely ready for a nice break in Belgium now :)

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  8. Those waffles look so good! We have watched Ragnarok before, like you I thought it was okay. I will watch the next series if they do one. So handy you come home to lots of nice treats from your daughters! I need my boys to bake more. Those brownies look very chocolatey!

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    1. There's nothing better than walking through the door after a long day at work and finding out that the kids have made dinner ... or at least a cake ! lol

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  9. Looks like you have had some lovely weather, its been a bit up and down here. We really enjoyed Ragnarok, do love anything with Vikings

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  10. That's a lot of school work (why are they calling schools colleges?). Pretty beach and the waffle looks delicious. Ragnarok sounds interesting. I heard about it in the recent God of War who's story includes Norse mythology. The pancakes are so cute and the brookies look delicious.
    The dog is so adorable. Lovely pictures. I hope you get to go to Belgium

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    1. French secondary schools are split in two - "collège" is for 11-15 year olds, then they choose a classic or professional "lycée" (15-18 year olds) or go into an apprenticeship :)

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  11. I will check out Ragnarok (I assumed it was somehting Thor related...) Lots of fab food, do calories count during covid? #project366

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    1. All covid calories only count for half of their usual value ! lol :-)

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  12. Wow what a busy week. I think my last week before our holidays will be the same. Hope you have made a dent into that to do list. The beach looks gorgeous I so love French beaches the ones we have visited have stretched for miles.

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    1. You can actually go all the way to (and into) Belgium via the beaches. Some people go out drinking on a Friday night out then wake up in Belgium the next day lol

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